Dementia Q&A

Answers to frequently asked questions about dementia.

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01 – Cholinesterase Inhibitors: Three drugs in a class called cholinesterase inhibitors are used in Australia to treat Alzheimer’s disease. This sheet provides information about how these drugs work, who might benefit, how they are prescribed and what questions people should ask their doctor if being prescribed these drugs.

02 – Subsidies Cholinesterase Inhibitors: Drugs called cholinesterase inhibitors are approved for listing on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) for treating people with Alzheimer’s disease who meet certain criteria. This sheet provides information about the conditions that meed to be met in order to receive these medications at the subsidised rate.

03 – Memantine: Memantine is one of a number of drugs that are available for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. This drug may alleviate symptoms in the middle and later stages of Alzheimer’s disease. This sheet provides information about how memantine works, who might benefit and what questions people should ask their doctor of being prescribed this drug.

04 – Behavioural and Pyschological Symptoms of Dementia drugs: People with dementia may at some point in their illness develop behavioural or psychological symptoms. While it is important to try to understand and address the underlying reasons for these problems, it may be necessary at times to prescribe medication. This sheet describes the different types of drugs that may be prescribed.

05 – Risperidone For The Treatment of Behavioural Symptoms in Dementia: This sheet explains current knowledge and concerns about Risperidone for people with dementia.

06 – Mental Exercise and Dementia: This sheet outlines the part that mentally stimulating activity can play in a healthy lifestyle and its potential to reduce the risk of dementia, and to benefit people with dementia.

07 – What You Eat And Drink and Your Brain: Diet is one factor researchers are investigating for its role in reducing the risk of dementia and for the assistance a healthy diet may provide to people who have dementia. This sheet outlines the part that diet can play in promoting a healthy brain.

08 – Physical Exercise and Dementia: Physical exercise is essential for maintaining good blood flow to the brain and may encourage new brain cell growth and survival. This sheet outlines the role that physical exercise can play in reducing the risk of developing dementia and the benefits it offers to people with dementia.

09 – Safer Walking for People with Dementia – Approaches and Technologies: People with dementia can derive great benefit from continuing to enjoy walking, however, for some there may be an increased risk of wandering, injury or getting lost. This sheet provides information about how walking can be made safer for people with dementia, and less worrying for their families and carers.

10 – Tests Used in Diagnosing Dementia: This sheet explains the more common tests and assessments doctors currently use to diagnose dementia. Those who are being assessed for dementia will find it helpful to be prepared for what, for some people, can be a long and emotionally difficult process.

11 – The Future of Dementia Diagnosis: This sheet provides information about proposed changes to the diagnostic criteria for dementia and the use of biomarkers for earlier and more accurate diagnosis.

12 – Genetics of Dementia: People affected by dementia are often concerned about whether the condition can be inherited. The genetics of dementia are complex and not yet fully understood. This sheet discusses our current knowledge and the latest research on the role of genetics in Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.

13 – Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI): Some people experience changes in memory and other cognitive (thinking) functions greater than that usually experienced with ageing, but without other signs of dementia. This is called Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). This sheet provides information about what MCI is and what it means to be told that you have MCI.

14 – Vascular Cognitive Impairment: Vascular cognitive impairment is a decline in thinking abilities caused by disease that damages the brain’s blood vessels. Vascular disease may cause cognitive impairment on its own, and can also contribute to impairments in thinking and behaviour in a person with another brain disease such as Alzheimer’s. This sheet describes the causes, consequences, diagnosis and treatment of vascular cognitive impairment.

15 – Depression and Dementia: Although it is sometimes difficult to distinguish between them and they can occur together, dementia and depression are different conditions. The purpose of this sheet is to help people to identify depression and to provide information that will help them raise issues with their clinicians.

16 – Pain and Dementia: People with dementia may be less able to communicate to their carers that they are in pain, resulting in reduced quality of life. This can be avoided by looking out for non-verbal signs of pain and providing adequate treatment. This sheet provides information about appropriate assessment and management of pain in people with dementia.

17 – Brain Donation: This sheet provides information to help you make a decision about donating your brain or your loved-one’s brain for research and how to go about it.

18 -Right to Health Information: Many carers of people with dementia experience concerns about being properly informed about the health care of the person they are responsible for. Disclosure of information about a person’s health care by the healthcare provider is governed by the Privacy Act. The Act does recognise that family and carers may need health information to be shared when they are responsible for decisions about the person’s care or treatment. This sheet explains what is allowed under the disclosure provisions of the Privacy Act, and how these provisions may apply to people with dementia, their families and carers.

19 – Aluminium And Alzheimer’s Disease: Can exposure to aluminium cause Alzheimer’s disease? Aluminium is one of a number of factors that has been suggested as a cause for Alzheimer’s disease. However, the balance of evidence does not support a specific role for aluminium in Alzheimer’s disease. This sheet examines the role of aluminium in the body and the evidence for a connection between aluminium and Alzheimer’s disease.

20 – Anaesthesia for Older People and People with Dementia: for a long time, there have been anecdotal reports from family members that their older relative “has never been the same since the operation”. This sheet describes the different types of problems that may occur.

21 – Souvinaid, A Dietary Treatment for Mild Alzheimer’s Disease: Souvenaid is a nutritional supplement for people with mild Alzheimer’s disease. It contains a combination of nutrients that are thought to support brain functions affected in early Alzheimer’s. Souvenaid is intended to be used under medical supervision. This Help Sheet describes what Souvenaid is, how it works, how it should be used, and who may benefit from its use.

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